Altitude noun [ Latin altitudo , from altus high. Confer Altar , Haughty , Enhance .] 1. Space extended upward; height; the perpendicular elevation of an object above its foundation, above the ground, or above a given level, or of one object above another; as, the altitude of a mountain, or of a bird above the top of a tree. 2. (Astron.) The elevation of a point, or star, or other celestial object, above the horizon, measured by the arc of a vertical circle intercepted between such point and the horizon. It is either true or apparent ; true when measured from the rational or real horizon , apparent when from the sensible or apparent horizon. 3. (Geom.) The perpendicular distance from the base of a figure to the summit, or to the side parallel to the base; as, the altitude of a triangle, pyramid, parallelogram, frustum, etc. 4. Height of degree; highest point or degree.

Alto noun ; plural Altos [ Italian alto high, from Latin altus . Confer Alt .] 1. (Mus.) Formerly the part sung by the highest male, or counter-tenor, voices; now the part sung by the lowest female, or contralto, voices, between in tenor and soprano. In instrumental music it now signifies the tenor. 2. An alto singer.

Alto clef (Mus.) the counter-tenor clef, or the C clef, placed so that the two strokes include the middle line of the staff. Moore.

Alto-rilievo noun ; plural Alto-rilievos [ Italian ] (Sculp.) High relief; sculptured work in which the figures project more than half their thickness; as, this figure is an alto-rilievo or in alto- rilievo . » When the figure stands only half out, it is called mezzo- rilievo , demi-rilievo , or medium relief; when its projection is less than one half, basso-rilievo , bas-relief , or low relief.

Alto-stratus noun [ Latin altus high + Latin & English stratus .] (Meteor.) A cloud formation similar to cirro-stratus, but heavier and at a lower level.

Altrices noun plural [ Latin , nourishes, plural of altrix .] (Zoology) Nursers, -- a term applied to those birds whose young are hatched in a very immature and helpless condition, so as to require the care of their parents for some time; -- opposed to præcoces .

Altruism noun [ French altruisme (a word of Comte's), Italian altrui of or to others, from Latin alter another.] Regard for others, both natural and moral; devotion to the interests of others; brotherly kindness; -- opposed to egoism or selfishness . [ Recent] J. S. Mill.

Aludel noun [ French & Spanish aludel , from Arabic aluthāl .] (Chemistry) One of the pear-shaped pots open at both ends, and so formed as to be fitted together, the neck of one into the bottom of another in succession; -- used in the process of sublimation. Ure.

Alula noun [ New Latin , dim. of Latin ala a wing.] (Zoology) A false or bastard wing. See under Bastard .

Alular adjective (Zoology) Pertaining to the alula.

Alum noun [ Middle English alum , alom , Old French alum , French alun , from Latin alumen alum.] (Chemistry) A double sulphate formed of aluminium and some other element (esp. an alkali metal) or of aluminium. It has twenty-four molecules of water of crystallization. » Common alum is the double sulphate of aluminium and potassium. It is white, transparent, very astringent, and crystallizes easily in octahedrons. The term is extended so as to include other double sulphates similar to alum in formula.

Alum transitive verb To steep in, or otherwise impregnate with, a solution of alum; to treat with alum. Ure.

Alum root (Botany) A North American herb ( Heuchera Americana ) of the Saxifrage family, whose root has astringent properties.

Alum schist, Alum shale (Min.) A variety of shale or clay slate, containing iron pyrites, the decomposition of which leads to the formation of alum, which often effloresces on the rock.

Alum stone (Min.) A subsulphate of alumina and potash; alunite.

Alumen noun [ Latin ] (Chemistry) Alum.

Alumina noun [ Latin alumen , aluminis . See Alum .] (Chemistry) One of the earths, consisting of two parts of aluminium and three of oxygen, Al 2 O 3 . » It is the oxide of the metal aluminium, the base of aluminous salts, a constituent of a large part of the earthy siliceous minerals, as the feldspars, micas, scapolites, etc., and the characterizing ingredient of common clay, in which it exists as an impure silicate with water, resulting from the decomposition of other aluminous minerals. In its natural state, it is the mineral corundum.

Aluminate noun (Chemistry) A compound formed from the hydrate of aluminium by the substitution of a metal for the hydrogen.

Aluminiform adjective [ Latin alumen + -form .] Having the form of alumina.

Aluminium (ăl`u*mĭn"ĭ*ŭm) noun [ Latin alumen . See Alum .] (Chemistry) The metallic base of alumina. This metal is white, but with a bluish tinge, and is remarkable for its resistance to oxidation, and for its lightness, having a specific gravity of about 2.6. Atomic weight 27.08. Symbol Al.

Aluminium bronze or

gold , a pale gold-colored alloy of aluminium and copper, used for journal bearings, etc.

Aluminize (ȧ*lū*mĭ*nīz) transitive verb To treat or impregnate with alum; to alum.

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